Health workers examine a patient at a hospital in Hà Nội. —Photo sggp.org.vn

HÀ NỘI — The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has asked provinces and cities to tighten the screening, classification and isolation of COVID-19 patients at medical facilities across the country on Tuesday.

The move is in response to the continuing development of the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in over 100 countries and territories worldwide, especially new transmission sources and cases detected recently in Việt Nam.

It is forecasted that there will be an increase of new suspected cases coming to hospitals for health check-ups, according to the committee.

The committee asked provinces and cities to take screening measures at medical facilities by setting up signs and classifying patients at its gates and treating people with symptoms of suspected COVID-19, like fever, cough or breathing difficulties.

Medical facilities are requested to arrange staff to screen and classify patients before they enter the examination faculty, absolutely do not allow patients with clinical and epidemiological symptoms of suspected COVID-19 to enter the waiting room with other patients.

District and higher level medical facilities are urged to arrange specific areas and closely manage COVID-19 suspected or positive cases.

State and private medical clinics are requested to record and report information of suspected cases to the provincial centres for disease control and prevention or health department for timely measures of management, quarantine and isolation.

They are also suggested to promote communication and education measures to strengthen the community’s awareness on Covid-19 prevention and help people obeying screening and classification measures at medical facilities.

As of 7am today, more than 113,900 COVID-19 patients had been reported in 103 countries and territories around the world. Nearly 4,000 fatalities had been reported worldwide, with 3,119 in China. Việt Nam has reported 32 cases and no fatalities of Covid-19, according to the Ministry of Health. — VNS